Xi stresses deepening military-civilian integration

President Xi Jinping on Monday stressed that the military should continuously strengthen its bond with civilians, to provide a strong driving force of building a powerful military and to support the Chinese Dream.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks while attending a plenary meeting of the delegation of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and armed police at the ongoing session of the 13th National People's Congress, China's national legislature.

He stressed the importance of strengthening defense technology innovation, the acceleration of a military-civilian integration innovation system, and improving the capability to transform advanced technology into application, so as to push military construction forward.

He told delegates to pay close attention to the development trend of the world's military technology and weapons, striving to seize the commanding heights of technological innovation strategy.

The president also believed the PLA should have an opening and sharing of ideas to strengthen the optimal configuration of science and technological innovation resources and to tap into society's science and technological potential.

Reforms must be unswervingly carried out to the end, Xi pointed out. Practical military training should be prioritized so that the combat effectiveness of PLA can be improved. PLA as a whole should support the reform of policy system and speed up the establishment of a modern military system.

Military delegates arrive to attend the opening session of the 13th National People's Congress at The Great Hall of People on March 5, 2018 in Beijing, China. /VCG Photo

Xi reinforced that the PLA should be run strictly in accordance with the law. The whole army should adapt to the Party's discipline inspection system while closely linking up the country's legislative efforts. Law enforcement needs to be strictly supervised so that it can be carried out throughout the whole army-constructing process.